Automatic fire extinguisher



Oct. 9, 1934. J. A. TAYLOR AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed Feb. 20 193?. 2 Sheets-Sheet awwemtoz 1% a. 1 1m Oct. 9, 1934. J TAYLOR 1,976,586 7 AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed Feb. 20,1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 9, 1934 Application February 20, 1932, Serial No. 594,404 I Refiled for abandoned application September '3,

' 1926; Serial No. 138,728.

This application Feb ruary 20, 193,2,Serial No. 594,404

7 Claims. (Cl. 16929) The main object of my invention in its broad scope is to provide an automatic fire extinguish ing apparatus that will automatically distribute fire extinguishing material over a wide area by the use of compressed air or gas upon the sur rounding atmosphere or a thermo-trip reaching a predetermined temperature.

My device is selfor other parts.

I'have therefore devised'an apparatus which is dependent solely on the forces of nature, gravity and air under pressure sealed by a liquid seal and without any complicated or delicate parts which might easily become disarranged and which provides means for testing the pressure of such air at any time.

In the preferred form in which I have found my broad invention to be best adaptable to bring about the most rapid and widest distribution of chemicals upon a fire zone it consists of a freely movable. cylindrical chemical receptaole, cone shaped at one end and supported at the other by a chain or cord to a ceiling. The cone shaped end is provided with a screw nozzle plug. having an inlet-outlet aperture, a sealing plunger, a trigger to operate such plunger, curved outlet tubes set at opposing angles to each other and a movable threaded hollow plug for use in charging the receptacle with compressed air and chemical and to seal the receptacle during charging. The receptacle is provided with a secondary support cord or chain attached above its middle, the other end of which issecured to the ceiling at a point perpendicularly above such point of athang from the secondary support with the cone end lower than the other. This will cause the end having the outlet nozzle to be depressed insuring the liquid contents being always at the bottom covering and sealing the outlet valve to insure a nonleakage of the compressed air. This is one of the important elements of this invention that the outlet is constantly sealed under pressure by a seal that does not have to'be broken. One end of the trigger is secured to a cord also fastened.

above to the ceiling, which cord is left very slack. The middle support cord is provided with a link of easily fusible metal.

ispulled; the plunger opened and: the chemical expelled by the compressed air.

The chemical expelled under great pressure is driven against the outlet tubes placed as shown in the drawings" and the receptacle is thereby revolved andthe chemical is distributed in all directions through such revolutions and the pendulous motion of the receptacle. My said invention is fully shown and described in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, wherein similar letters or numerals of reference designate like or equivalent parts wherever found throughout the several views and in which:'-'-- 4 Figure l is a side view of my entire automatic fire extinguisher in. operative position. Y

Figure 2 is a side-end view in detail of'the trigger slot and plunger.

Figure 3 is a side view, partially in central longitudinal section, of the mainpdrtion of my automatic fire extinguisher. i

Figure 4 is a View in detail from the bottom of the nozzle plug showing the trigger and trigger cord in position. i I

Referring to the drawings:

The reference letter A (Figs. 1 and 3) designates a receptacle for holding both fire extinguish ing chemicals and compressed air or gas. l3 (Figs. 1, 3 and 4) is a threaded plug inserted into the lower end of the receptacle A. C isa cone shaped sealing valve seated in a co-acting valve seat cavity 1 in the plug B (Fig. 3). D is a threaded plug inserted into the threaded cavity 2 in the plug B (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4) This cavity extends above and beyond the outlet orifices 3 (Fig. 3) in the plug B and opens, into the orifice 4 in such plug. The orifice 4 opens into the cavity 1 and it will be seen that when the valve C is lifted and the plug Dunscrewed beyond the orifices 3 there is a free opening for the egress of the chemical. Inserted securely in the orifices 3 are the outlet-distributer tubes 5 (which may be two 'or more) which are curved in opposing" arcs after leaving the plug B as shown inFigL 4. In the center of the plug D (Fig. 3) is an orifice 6 throughwhich passes the plunger rod 7" which is integral with the valveC and is threaded at the other end. On this .threaded end is screws ed the coneshaped valve G which is adjustable to shorten or lengthen the distance between the two valves. On the lower end of theplug D is. the threaded part .8 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and;4) of the standard size .and thread of: a compressed air nozzle such as .is used for inflating tires. .Qn. this threaded part, when'itzis desired to .fillthe receptacle with compressed air or gas, a feed tube is screwed .and the air either p mped or passed 110 into the same. When this is being done, the plug D is screwed down hard to close the outlet orifices 3.

Secured to the plug 13 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4) is a slotted support 9. In the slot slides the trigger E which is in two parts and 11 pivoted together at 12. Part 10 is provided with an inclined face 13 and part 11 is provided with a co-acting face 14. The upper face of part 11 is also inclinedrelat'ively to the lower face of part 10. The outer ends of the parts 10 and 11 are separated adjacent to the pivot 12 providing a space for the insertion of a long open link 15 the insidespace of which is longer than the part 11 (Figs. 3 and 4). The part 11 is'of such a length that when the trigger E has been drawn out to itsend the inner end of part 11 will bebeyond and free from the support 9. The part 11 being pivoted and free will revolve and will be pulled back and through link 15 leaving the receptacle free to swing'to and fro after thetrigger E has opened the outlet valve. The ends of the link 15 are open and curved inwardly so that the linkmay be insertedintothe space between 10 and 11 and then docked over a link on the trigger actuating chain or cord 16 (Figs. 1, 3 and 4) which is secured to the ceiling above the trigger when the device is in operative-position. Such chain 16 is considerably longer than the distance between the end of the trigger and the ceiling in operative position so that there is considerable slack in such chain. The part 11 is provided with an indentation 17 (Fig. 3) sothat when it engages the valve G it will not drop out of the slot 18 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) in the support Sin which the trigger is housed. The part 10 is provided with an indentation 19so' that when the trigger has been drawn through the slot 18 to; its end and has been-stopped by i the projection 20, it cannot accidentally be ejected...

The upper. face of the part 19 is inclined upward beyond theindentation 19 so that the valve G will be kept closed.

The support 21 (Fig. 3) is provided at the upper end of the plug B so that the valve C will not drop into'the receptacle if the valve G is accidentally. removedland also to check the movement of the valve -C when the compressed air or gas is being inserted and the valve G has been slightly unscrewed or removed.

The lower end '22 of the plug B (Figs. 1, 3 and 4) is squared to permit a wrench to be used to screw inthe plug. vThe lower end or" the plug Dis slotted 23 (Fig. 3) with a screw'head for adjusting the plug.

Thereceptacle A is provided with a support loop 24 (Figs. 1 and 3) at a point slightly above where the receptacle is balanced when in operative. position so that the device will hang freely with the bottom slightly downward. Atv a point on the ceiling immediately above such loop is pro-' vided a support loop 25 (Fig. 1). A fusible metal link 2610f. such composition that it will melt at a predeterminedtemperature is connected to the loops 24 and 25 by twoihooks, one on its upper surface27 and one on-its lower surface 28. Such is attached a support cord or chain 31' which is V .secured at its other end to a support loop 32 secured to the ceiling at a distance; from the loop 25 such that when the device is in operative position the cord 30 will not be'quite taut.

Within thefreceptacle is a partition 33 at apoint' which will be just above the level or" thechemical when the receptacle is held upright. This partition has an opening on the side adjacent to the loop 24 so that the compressed air or gas may alwaysbe free to pass from one side of the partition to the other. It will be seen that when the receptacle is held upright the. chemical will flow to the bottom and when the receptacle is supported from the loop 24 there will always'be chemical covering and sealing the valve C. It is evident that the same effect is obtained by having the support 24 placed nearer to the top of the receptacle so that the bottom is allowed to hang lower than the top.

, The plug B and its attachments are assembled before it is inserted into the receptacle A. The

plug D is screwed in tightly to close the outlet orifices 3. The plunger of the valve C is then inserted into theplug D and the valve G is then partially screwed on. The support 21 is secured in place. The desired amount of fire extinguishing chemical is then poured into the receptacle and the plug B screwed tightly into the receptacle. An air nozzle is screwed onto the threaded part 8 and the desired air pressure introduced. The. receptacle is then turned top up and the air nozzle removed. Gravity andthe pressure of the chem-. ical on the valve will seat the same and seal it against leakage. It can be manually more firmly seated by pulling on the Valve G. The support 9 is then secured in place and the trigger inserted in the slot 18. The link 15 is then inserted in the, trigger and the valve G unscrewed'until it makes contact with the trigger loosely. The plug D is unscrewed until the outlet orifices 3 are uncovered and up to a predetermined point which will allow, for the valve G to be, seated :when actuated by the trigger before the valve C touches the support 21. The device. is now secured to the support ring in the chain. 31 and to theceiling, and raised in an arc to the ceiling. Th-e'hooks 2'7 and 28 on the fusible link are inserted in the loops 24 and 25. Thechain 16 is secured to the ceiling and the-link 15 snapped into the lastlink thereof.

.Whenthefusible link 26 ismelted, the recep-' tacle fallsa short distance and'the chain 16 becomes taut; and jerks the trigger through its' slot. unseating'the valve C and closing the valve G. When the trigger has been pulled through to the end it will be stopped by the projection 20, the part 11 will open and release the receptacle and the device will be put into operation and swing freely from the single ceiling support.

As the chemical is expelled under pressure and impinges against the curved surfaces of the outlet tubes 5 set at opposing angles the receptacle will be revolved rapidly on the familiar principle of a lawn sprinkler by reaction of the moving liquid when the same is forced against the tubes since the tubes are curved and the liquid tends to;

every direction'and a very wide area. With a.

three foot support chain the receptacle will travel 'over a circle six feet in'diameter and with the pressure throw will cover an area thirty to fifty feet square or even more depending on the pressure and the height of theceiling. I

When the device has been discharged it can readily be recharged without special apparatus. It is taken down andlthe support 9 removed. The valve G is removedand also-the plug; D. The;

chemical is inserted. The plug and-the-valve replaced; the airiis inserted andrthe support with are adjusted and the device is again supported ready for operation.

The pressure maintained within the receptacle may be tested at any time by a pressure gauge screwed over the part 8 and over the same orifice and in the same manner as the refilling tube after the part D has been screwed down so as to close the orifices of the distributer tubes. The valve is then pushed up manually by pressing against the end of the valve stem inside the flexible tube of the pressure gauge. The trigger is for convenience withdrawn for this purpose and afterward replaced, the part D is unscrewed and the trigger replaced.

It is obvious that many changes and modifications of construction and detail may be made,

to adapt the device to varying conditions without departing from the scope of my invention and I therefore do not intend to limit myself to the exact form of construction shown.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a receptacle rotatably mounted on a flexible support adapted to contain a fire extinguishing chemical under constant pressure, such pressure comprising means for distributing such chemical and for rotating such receptacle by reaction of such chemical against outlet tubes which are arranged so that the emerging chemical shall pass through them, a link fusible at a predetermined temperature which holds such receptacle in a position out of the vertical until the fusing of the link and the release of the receptacle on its flexible support into pendulous motion, a valve for releasing such chemical from the receptacle through such tubes and means responsive to the fall of the receptacle, upon the fusing of the link, for opening such valve.

2. In a device of the class described, a receptacle rotatably mounted, a fire extinguishing material maintained in such receptacle under constant air pressure, a single inlet-outlet adjustable unit for inserting such air pressure and automatically cutting ofi its escape and for discharging such receptacle and means for actuating such discharging unit when the surrounding atmosphere reaches a predetermined temperature.

3. In a device of the class described, a receptacle rotatably mounted on a flexible support adapted to contain a flre extinguishing chemical under pressure, such pressure comprising means for expelling such chemical, an inlet-outlet adjustable unit for inserting such pressure means and for discharging the contents of such receptacle, means for causing a rotating motion to the receptacle by reaction of the discharging chemical, means for positioning such receptacle out of the vertical and releasing the same on the melting of a fusible link and for giving a pendulous motion to such receptacle by such flexible support on such release and means for automatically actuating such discharge. 1

4. In a device of the class described, a receptacle rotatably mounted adapted to contain a fire extinguishing chemical maintained under air pressure; an inlet-outlet adjustable unit for inserting such air pressure and discharging such chemical and such pressure means, comprising a threaded part inserted at the end of such receptacle, an inlet-outlet valve contained therein,

a trigger for actuating such valve, and curved chemical distributor outlet tubes connected with the opening of such valve for continuously rotating such receptacle by reaction of such discharging chemical upon the actuation of such trigger.

5. In a device of the class described, a receptacle adapted to contain a fire extinguishing chemical maintained under pressure; an inlet-outlet adjustable unit for the insertion of such pressure means and discharging such chemical and such pressure means, comprising a threaded partinserted at the end of such receptacle, an inletoutlet valve contained therein; means for rotatably suspending such receptacle comprising a flexible, pendulous'operative support; means for releasing such receptacle into pendulous motion comprising a fusible metal secondary support maintaining such receptacle in a raised position out of the vertical until the fusible metal has been fused; curved chemical distributor outlet tubes connected with the orifice of such valve for rotating such receptacle when the fusible metal support has been fused; and a trigger for actuating such valve secured at the one end to the ceiling and operated by the falling of the receptacle.

6. In a device of the class described, a receptacle adapted to contain a fire extinguishing chemical rotatably mounted on a. flexible operative support for the same, pressure means for rotating such receptacle by reaction of such chemical against curved outlet tubes and for distributing such chemical maintained within such receptacle, a discharge valve maintained in closed position by pressure within the receptacle, means forgiving such receptacle pendulous motion consisting of a fusible link secondarily supporting the same in a raised horizontal position until the fusible link has fused and thereupon released the same and means for actuating the discharge valve releasing such chemical upon the release of the receptacle.

7. In a device of the class described, a receptacle adapted to contain a fire extinguishing chemical, a rotatable, flexible, operative support for the same, pressure means for distributing such chemical maintained within such receptacle, means for giving such receptacle pendulous motion consisting of a. fusible link secondarily supporting the same in a raised horizontal position until the fusible link has been fused and thereupon released the same, means for actuating the discharge of such chemical upon the release of the JAMES A. TAYLOR. 

